(19)
(11) EP 0 694 836 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
24.04.1996 Bulletin 1996/17

(43) Date of publication A2:
31.01.1996 Bulletin 1996/05

(21) Application number: 95650023.5

(22) Date of filing: 04.07.1995
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: G06F 9/44
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IE NL

(30) Priority: 28.07.1994 IE 940602

(71) Applicants:
  • HITACHI EUROPE LIMITED
    Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 8YA (GB)
  • The Provost Fellows and Scholars of The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth Near Dublin
    Dublin 2 (IE)

(72) Inventors:
  • Smyth, Barry
    Dublin 16 (IE)
  • Cunningham, Padraig
    Dublin 4 (IE)

(74) Representative: Weldon, Michael James et al
c/o Cruickshank & Co., 1 Holles Street
Dublin 2
Dublin 2 (IE)

   


(54) A case base system


(57) A case base system (1) does not need a decision structure such as a rule base as it uses both automatic (46) and interactive steps (47-48) which are carried out in real time to retrieve the most appropriate case. Case filtering (5) is carried out to immediately provide an initial candidate set by elimination of incompatible case records according to received free features. The free features are addressable as such in the case records. A primary processor (6) carries out pattern matching operations (46) correlating feature values and solutions in case records (10) of a candidate set. By doing this, it automatically identifies the most discriminating feature for the candidate set. The primary processor (6) interactively provides feedback (47-48) and receives a value for the most discriminating feature and further reduces the candidate set. The automatic and interactive steps are repeated in cycles until all remaining case records have the same solution (45).






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